carcass66

I think I have a big problem with my 1992 es300. The car started having rough idle and there's a strong fuel smell in the engine. I also see a white smoke coming out of the tail pipe. I search the forum and learned it could be a bad maf/air flow meter, a bad fuel regulator or the worst, a blown headgasket. How do i know which one is it for sure? My brother remove the metal cover on the maf and adjusted the screw inside which i think is a bad idea. I'm also not getting any new check engine codes(it's always been code 55 since a bought the car). Even if i disconnect one of my oxygen sensors it's still code 55..I don't know why is that. Any help to pinpoint the problem is appreciated. Thanks.

amf1932

It sure sounds like a blown head gasket.

carcass66

I checked the oil dipstick and there's seems to be no coolant present..also there's no oil in coolant. that's still the headgasket? I also like to add the smoke smells like fuel. How do I check the MAF too make sure it's not the problem?

amf1932

Sometimes you won't see coolant on the dipstick even though you have a leaking headgasket, but the fact that you mentioned white smoke leads me to believe that this can be the cause of this problem. If you mentioned black smoke, that is caused by an improper fuel, air mixture, or burning oil.

steviej

iTrader: (1)

code 55 is a knock sensor signal error. I don't know if that is related to your current problem.

low coolant, fuel smell, white smoke, runs rough........sounds like a head gasket problem.

get a compression test on each cylinder to find the bank that is blown.

steviej

carcass66

Thanks guys..looks like another expensive repair. It's time for a new car.

carcass66

Another question..will a head gasket blew just because it's old? The car ran fine in the morning..got off from work in the afternoon and the problem started. My brother said a headgasket won't blew unless the car overheated and mine didn't. What would the compression be like if i have a blown headgasket? Thanks.

amf1932

A head gasket CAN start leaking without the car overheating although it can play a part in this gasket failing. Age plays a part of this also. Compression testing is not a valid test in certain cases, since it all depends on how big the hole is or where it's located.

steviej

iTrader: (1)

true, but it is a start. If it were me, I would also pressure test the cooling system.

Sometimes we used to blow shop air into the spark plug opening with a rubber tipped nozzle. With the cap off the radiator, bubbles coming up means you got a dead head gasket.

steviej

amf1932

Yup, I remember doing that on my 1940 La Salle when I was testing it for a blown head gasket. That's assuming that the gasket hole is going into the cooling system. Good idea.

carcass66

Just an update..It's not the headgasket for sure..the car is dumping raw fuel. I changed the air flow meter but the same problem..so what other things I need to look at? A bad ecu? O2 sensor? Thanks.

Woogie

yes, all signs lead to head gasket problem

mZp3Rv

i have the same problem. thing is. the white smoke would only appear once in a while. sometimes in the morning, if not in the morning sometimes smoke would appear in the afternoon after my class, or there will be no smoke at all through out the whole day. i had my '92ES300 since 2001. i dont know what it is. i was thinking the same thing, blown head gasket. damn..this sucks

grnstreak

carcass and mzp whats your oil look like? and does your white smoke have a blue tint to it?

Check your compression if you think its your head gasket, a dead give away would be two cylinders that are next to each other having low results.

Lexguy026

Dude, replace the MAF Sensor, cost me 100 Bucks from Junkyard, usually i would opt for the less expensive repair but it seems like ur having the same problem i was having and everyone thought it was a Headgasket Try the MAF First im sure its it, as far as adjusting a screw ur messing with the Cars Computer and Idle Setting Just replace the MAF and i think ur will be fine